United StatesPhosphor 3 is the latest version of our Phosphor series of vintage digital synthesizers. Phosphor is a clone of the alphaSyntauri, one of the first relatively inexpensive digital synthesizers, that ran on the Apple II. Phosphor is a faithful recreation of the alphaSyntauri's additive synthesis engine, and can accurately recreate the sound of this classic and groundbreaking synth. The Phosphor 3 update brings MPE, tuning tables, extensive modulation, a new preset manager, and an all-new reactive UI to the plugin. Featuring two additive oscillators (with the original 16 partial complement of the alphaSyntauri, or optionally with 32 or 64 partials), each with its own amp envelope, Phosphor's topology closely follows the alphaSyntauri, while adding many modern features such as full velocity control, a much more extensive modulation routing system, tempo synced LFOs, a pair of delays, and two monophonic modes. The noise and oscillators are able to work in the original alphaSyntauri "low-resolution" modes, or can be run in modern high-resolutions. Phosphor can accurately model the original sounds of the alphaSyntauri, yet still provide new paths for sonic exploration. Features • Two complete oscillator/envelope sections modeled on the original topology of the alphaSyntauri. • Each set of partials can run in "lo-fi" mode, emulating the gritty digital voicing of original, or in a modern mode for alias-free sines. • The noise can be either "lo-fi" digital shift-register noise per the original, or modern white noise. • Two complete delay sections with LP/HP filtering and cross-feedback. • Two tempo-syncable LFOs with multiple modulation destinations. • A large complement of presets included that show off the extensive sound generating capabilities of Phosphor, including some famous alphaSyntauri presets directly ported from the original. • TUN file loading for alternate tuning and scales. • MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) capability for MPE controllers like the Roli Seaboard, Linnstrument, and Sensel Morph.
Capable and Amazing!
I don’t know how long I’ve owned this synth but I just got around to playing it and wow, it’s fun! It has a unique feature which I’ve only seen on Copperhead by 4Pockets; it allows you to design your wave by setting the fundamentals! This is a big deal. You can learn a lot about audio waves just by observing the effect the fundamentals have in the wave shape. Too bad there’s no oscilloscope to show the effect but there’s several on the App Store you can attach to via your DAW via auV3. This is a great synth… just get it!!
United StatesFrequent crashes when rotating presets
After running through a number of presets, this synth will crash. I’ve been able to replicate this bug 4 times in the last 10 minutes of trying it out. Edit: This bug may have been patched. There was a recent update but no update log. Before the app would crash at about 20-30 patch cycling. Now it's more like 100-150 when changing patches very quickly. Thank you.
United StatesFrequent crashes when rotating presets
After running through a number of presets, this synth will crash. I’ve been able to replicate this bug 4 times in the last 10 minutes of trying it out. The sound is nice though?
United StatesOne of my favorite synths
It’s beautiful and a great way to learn additive synthesis
United StatesGreat Polysynth
Not your typical polysynth, but I keep coming back because it just sounds great. Comes with some great presets too! Not aware of anything else quite like it on iOS. Highly recommended.
United StatesFabulous
Just enough depth to allow endless versatility, but it withholds everything that might give the impression of excess or overelaboration. The new version retains its connection to the original hardware in its general architecture, but, even more than 2 did, the app far exceeds anything possible with ‘80s hardware. The additions in Phosphor 3 all improve the instrument without damaging the immediacy of the old version. There remains some room to grow, but this is a joy to use and it no longer cries out for additional features (as much as I enjoyed 2, it wanted some of this extra stuff). I’ll skip the blow-by-blow of what’s best about the synth. Let’s just say it’s very much worth buying, even if you have little idea of what additive synthesis is about. If you know a little, so much the better. Thanks to the devs - and a special thanks for making the on-screen keyboard worthwhile. Too many devs forget this platform is based on mobile devices - and that for most of us, usually, that mobility doesn’t include a lap full of MIDI devices. Now if the music devs could impress upon Apple that allowing moving or temporary deactivation of the up-swipe dock would be an enormous improvement for the music-app-buying segment of the user base. I have tried. Apple does not listen to users. Maybe successful devs would have better luck?
United StatesI keep coming back to it
Sound design is a bit hit and miss for me with this synth, but it has a ton of great presets and has become my go-to poly synth when I want a nice chord sound or pad.
United States
Just a maintenance update, to make sure everything is current.
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